AMERICAN CANYON -- Big-rig trucks often appear like mushrooms after rain along the side of Highway 29 near American Canyon Road, and some folks don't like it. .

Some days, that east road shoulder is truck free and other times, a half-dozen or more could be parked there, city and police officials said Thursday.

American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia said he hasn't noticed a pattern based on time of day, day of the week, or season of the year. In any case, the semis are not aesthetically the look city officials are going for, but that highway segment is not in the city's purview, he said.

"It's a Caltrans right-of-way, and the city's been in touch with Caltrans about it," Garcia said. "We haven't gotten anything back yet, as far as I know."

Calling the collection of 18-wheelers "a nuisance," Garcia also said "I realize truck drivers need a place to rest, but (the trucks) visually have a bad impact, and we've had a number of complaints from residents."

City Councilwoman Joan Bennett said she agrees "it's not the ideal place for them to park in terms of aesthetics," though she sees no particular danger in the trucks being there.

"I don't really have a problem with them, exactly, I just don't know why they're using that area to park in," she said. "And eventually something will be built by there."

Police Chief Jean Donaldson said he has fielded citizen complaints and is in contact with Caltrans on the issue.

"Caltrans was called and said they may put 'no parking' signs up; that they're working on the issue," Donaldson said.

Caltrans spokesman Adam Priest said his agency is "in the embryonic stages" of working on the wording for signs to discourage parking in that area.

"Years ago, American Canyon had signs up in that area, and over the years, they've been knocked down or deteriorated," Priest said. "We're working with our signing department on the language, which will have to do with not parking here."

Priest said he doesn't know how many signs will be made or how long they'll take.

Meanwhile, it's not officially against the law to park on that dirt shoulder, though the wisdom of doing so is in question, Donaldson said.

"It's probably not the best place for them to park," he said. "They could obstruct vision, and there's very fast-moving traffic, there."

Donaldson said he recognizes it may be partly a safety issue for the truckers.

"They're only allowed to drive so many hours per day and have to find a place to stop, and this seems to be where they're doing it now," he said.

A real truck stop would be a more appropriate place for the truckers to congregate, Garcia said.

Nevertheless, "I can't help but wonder what level of security they have," Garcia said. "It doesn't seem like a good location. A facility designed to accommodate a rest area for truck drivers would be better."

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at Rachelvth.